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Music of the Month: April

April 27, 2011

Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs 40th Anniversary Deluxe Addition, Derek and the Dominos

Sounds like

One of the top rock and roll albums around plus an added disc of outtakes that may not be as legendary, but hey, they’re free.

The story

Eric Clapton didn’t reach legendary status by being the greatest guitar player ever but by having the good sense to constantly surround himself with even better musicians. The lineup of Derek and the Dominos–Clapton, Jim Gordon, Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and guest Duane Allman– is no exception. In fact, it’s Allman’s accents that make this album truly great.

“Layla” wouldn’t be half the song it is without Duane’s slide, and quite frankly, if you’re going to write a song about trying to get into George Harrison’s wife’s pants, it better be damn good. Otherwise, you’re really just a jackass on two accounts. The album is full of lots of great rock and roll lore. Like, that beautiful and haunting piano coda to “Layla”? That was actually written by drummer Jim Gordon and wasn’t intended for the song. Apparently Eric and Duane had gone out for a cup of coffee (to shoot heroin), and when they came back Jim was playing it on the piano. Eric asked him what it was and Jim said it was nothing, whatever, and Eric was all, “My ass—I paid for the studio time, that’s going on the album.” More or less. Pick it up here.

Why you should check it out

It really is one of the best rock and roll albums of the early 70s.

Peter Grumbine is a writer, producer, and talker who has covered music, pop culture, and the apocalypse for CNN, Current TV, and Maxim Magazine, among others, online, on-air and in print.

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